This is chapter 12! Now, I kinda went brain dead, and I think it got way bad at the end, so I could use some honest reviews and tips. I'm uploading more now as you can tell, and reviews speed it up! Anyways, I really hope ya'll love the chapter, and if you want, give me idea's! Also, I was scrolling through my comments, and I remembered my contest about who won the dying thing. Someone did guess it! But, they weren't logged on, so it won't count, sorry! Continue to guess my friends! :D

Chapter Twelve – Step Back

Leo's POV

Pain. It coursed through Leo. He heard his name being screamed, but it was so distant he might of just dreamed it. The monster had dropped Leo somehow, and instead of the arrow going through his head, it hit him dead on in his gut.

He fell head first, hearing a small crack split his skull. He remembered reading how this one girl got so hurt like this, everything felt numb. He's read a few other cases similar actually. But they were wrong. The pain was horrifying. How could this numb him? Wet, warm blood soak from both his head and gut. He was going to die.

The Cyclops was gone. He didn't know how, or where it went, but the next thing he knew, people surrounded him, their images in a blur. "Leo! Leo answer me!" Cried a voice Leo's couldn't pin point. It was female though. He tried to move, but he didn't have the energy.

Leo's vision was blurring. As darkness and pain consumed him, the last thing he saw was a girl running to him. Her caramel locks flowing behind her, and golden eyes bright with fear and misery. "Hazel…" He breathed, and he fell into darkness.

Leo found himself in a strange place. The sun was high, and smoke was nowhere in the scent. So he knew he wasn't in New York or any place in California. Leo slowly sat up, his head throbbing. It felt as if someone smacked him upside it mercilessly.

Leo looked around. He was on a barn. The place smelled oddly familiar, with the fresh scent of manure and hay. Leo was standing next to the bar when a tall, pale skinned man strode up to him. He wore an elegant suit, and had that "I'm so much better than you!" face on him. Leo knew that look by heart.

The man glanced at Leo like he was dirt. "Barn boy," He stated in a nasal tone. "I need you to feed the horse and comb them one hundred times each. Afterwards pick up the manure and feed the chicken. Milk the cows and goats and don't steal anything." He summed. Leo stared at him. He wanted to tell the guy off, to tell him he wasn't a stupid Barney boy or whatever, but an impulse spoke for him, in a voice Leo didn't know for his own. "Yes sir." He replied nonchalantly.

Leo mentally shook himself. What was that? The man nodded, but still looked miffed as he waked away. Leo watched him leave and heaved a giant breath. Dick. He instinctively did as he was told, starting with the milking, chicken feeding, and then picking up horse poo. Leo was getting ready to pamper the horses, wondering why his body was making him do this when the door creaked just the slightest amount.

He turned, afraid the old dude had come back for more, but instead there was (to his relief) a girl. She had brown, almost caramel colored hair topped with a bow. She wore a classy old dress he would see his grandmother wearing, and… he gasped. Golden eyes.

Hazel slide through the door, a devious smile, one Leo never knew, crept onto her face. "Hey Sammy." She greeted kindly. Sammy. Wasn't Sammy that guy Hazel cried about? The guy Hazel apparently missed. Leo felt himself flare up. He turned around to get a glimpse of this Sammy guy, but no one was there. Just a bucket of water.

"Sammy…?" He mumbled. Leo walked towards the bucket, picked it up, and let in a gasp of air. There, staring back at him, was… well, him. But not exactly. He looked different. More mature, and his curls were out of place. A place he kept them in order. He bit his lip in distress.

Hazel spoke up. "You alright Sammy?" She asked, sounded more worried now than joyed. Leo turned, setting the bucket down, and smiled. "Of course Hazel." He encouraged. The instinct took over again. Leo unwillingly turned to the horse and began to groom it.

"Which one do you like?" He asked. The two horses were both stunning. But as Leo groomed it, he recognized one; Arion. Leo wanted to tell the horse that it was him, Leo, but he couldn't. Hazel walked next to Leo, her arm brushing against his. Leo let out an annoyed puff. This Sammy guy was taller than him. Hazel never was that much shorter than he was.

Hazel let her hand fall into Arion. The horse whinnied in appreciation. Leo smirked. "He likes you." He noted. Hazel turned her brilliant eyes to him, her face ecstatic. "You think so?" Leo felt his breath blow away. He took a second to reply. "Why wouldn't he?" He replied dumbly.

A melodic laugh escaped Hazel's mouth. "Oh Sammy…" She laughed. Leo felt a joy run through him, but stopped it. He wasn't really Sammy.

The two mounted their steads, and in the large farmland, road off. Leo's horse (a pale white one with a black mane) galloped with ease, like it was used to Leo being on him. Hazel looked free. Her hair blew in the wind as she steered the horse, he face lit up with emotions of happiness and sheer joy. Leo loved it.

Leo's horse reared close, and just when Leo was going to say something, Hazel's horse galloped away. He reared up on her. "Hey… I'm not that ugly am I?" He accused, and Hazel laughed once more.

They road. Leo wasn't sure how much time went by, nor did he care. He even forgot of the Cyclops, and the arrow. All he was focused on was Hazel.

The two sat down under a tree, the horses near them. Leo pulled out something soft from his pocket, something he didn't know he had. It was a brown cupcake, with pink icing and sprinkles of different shades on it. Hazel smiled like the joker. "Oh my God, Sammy…" He breathed as the smile turned to a warmer smirk.

"Happy Birthday Hazel." He smiled, leaning in and giving her a warm, soft peck on the cheek. He leaned out to see Hazel's dark skin heat up. She bit her lip and smiled. "Thank you Sammy." She took the cupcake gratefully, cutting it in halves and sharing it with him. Leo ate with her as the sun began to set.

"I've got to go… I'll see you later?" She asked, hope hidden in her tone. Leo smiled. "Of course." He replied happily. Hazel waved and set off. Leo watched her. She was running. Running. Gone.

Leo was now somewhere else. The place was dark, and moist. He felt like a monster ate him. Looking around, Leo spotted a Lord on his throne. He looked sickly pale, and seemed very bored. He glanced at Leo and smirked. "Leo Valdez… I've been waiting." He smiled, snapping his fingers. A large, comfy looking chair appeared. "Sit." He demanded, and Leo was suddenly in the chair.

The pale man examined him. "So… You're the one in love with my daughter, huh?" He asked, though he sounded like he already knew. Leo froze. Oh gods. "Hades?" He gasped. The Dark Lord rolled his eyes. "Hades… Pluto, anything really, but I am him, yes."

Leo's mind was spinning. "Am I dead?" He asked. Hades examined him, like he was wondering himself. "Hm. I guess not." He admitted. His dark, coal eyes turned to on him. "You never answered me." He noticed. "Are you in love with my daughter?"

Leo bit his lip. "Hazel? Well…" Hades laughed. It was dark and crooked. Nothing like Hazel's. "Hephaestus children… so mixed with love. Barely experience it. Look at your father for example. Supposedly got a gal like Aphrodite and snap, she's in love with Ares." Hades shook his head.

Anger filled Leo. "So, you brought me here to make fun of me, and my dad?" He asked. Hades, put his chin in his hands. "Hm… I guess you're right." He admitted once again. Leo rose. "Send me back." Hades eyes burned like fire. "Fine. But listen here Valdez. You are coming into battle with one of my own. Beware. They are making a horrible decision. Revolting against me. I… I need your help." He admitted.

Leo froze. "So… let me get this straight. You insult me, insult my dad, ask me if I love your daughter, and ask me to save you." He summed. Hades glared at him. "Are you so stupid you need to take this simplest of things to sound correct?" He snapped. Leo shrugged. "Pretty much."

Hades rubbed his temples. "Fine. Yes Valdez. I need your help." Leo nodded in approval. "Ok. What is this you need?" He asked. Hades took a deep breath and spoke. "You kill the dark one at its weakest hour. All shall be restored when the ultimate sacrifice is given." He quoted. Leo stared at him. "Was that a prophecy?"

Hades glared at him. "I suppose. More of an instruction." Leo thought. "But aren't prophecies supposed to rhyme?" Hades stared at him with distaste. "I believe it's time to go back." He snapped, and Leo was back in life, pain filling his lungs.

Sorry for the horrible writing. Anyways, review please!